Javed Shaikh: Pakistani film industry is struggling, but will revive

Pakistani actor
Javed Shaikh on Thursday expressed his confidence that his country’s moribund
movie industry will see a strong revival.

“Our Pakistani
movie industry is like a new born baby and it’s emerging as a strong individual
day by day by taking new turns and making new films. Recently I saw films such
as Waar and Zinda Bhaag release internationally and that’s a good sign,” said
Shaikh at a press conference in Dubai. He was due to attend the special
screening of his sports drama Main Hoon Shahid Afridi on Thursday night at the
Grand Cineplex.

Like most Pakistani
films, it‘s international release was also delayed. Six months ago, the film
which is about a face-off between a team of misfits and established champions
saw robust box-office success in Pakistan.

“Main Hoon Shahid
Afridi is like a wave of fresh air which will herald new kinds of cinema,” said
Shaikh. His next project is a violent love story that will be partly filmed in
Dubai.

“I am planning a
co-production with India. It’s about India and Pakistan but it’s going to be a
positive story that will appeal to both countries,” said Shaikh, who is against
the idea of bashing up their neighboring rival India to gain eyeballs.
Recently, Shaan’s espionage blockbuster Waar was criticized for vilifying
India. He believes that copying Bollywood wouldn’t help their cause either.

“Indian films are
1000 times better made films. Our budgets are different. For instance, a Dhoom
3 budget is massive, there’s no competing. We can’t make movies on that scale,
but we are attempting to make good films on a small budget.”

One such success
story is Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, claims actor and producer Humayun Saeed.

“It’s Pakistan’s
first sports drama. Initially, the distributors in Pakistan weren’t confident
about its success. But when they saw the interest in the movie, their
confidence increased. Many have already seen the pirated version, but I am
confident that they will enjoy watching it in theatres. After all, there’s
something magical and different about watching a clear print on a big screen,”
said Saeed.

The Pakistani film
industry has been languishing for decades and has been crippled by piracy and
lack of funds for film-makers.

So has cricketer
Shahid Afridi seen the film? “Yes he has seen it. He enjoyed the film and said
it was a good effort. But he also told me to make films the way English films
are made,” said Saeed alluding to Hollywood films and its slick standards.

Produced by ARY
Films, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi is playing in the UAE cinemas this weekend.